Two more shipping lines add Port of Riga to routes
The Port of Riga has significantly expanded its container shipping capabilities with the introduction of two new direct cargo lines at the start of this year. This strategic growth enhances the port’s connectivity and reinforces its position as a vital logistics hub.
The British company Ellerman City Liners now operates a service connecting Riga with the ports of Gdynia, Teesport, Tilbury, and Rotterdam. Offering a comprehensive suite of multimodal solutions, Ellerman City Liners is distinguished by its commitment to service excellence, precision, speed, and a client-centered approach. Utilizing a versatile fleet with vessels ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 TEU, the company provides essential shipping links between the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. Two container carriers will service this route weekly at the berths of SIA “Rīgas Centrālais Termināls”.
Simultaneously, Hapag-Lloyd, a leading global container shipping company, has launched a new route serving Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg, Klaipeda, Riga, Rauma, and Helsinki. Hapag-Lloyd boasts a fleet of 305 modern container ships with an annual transport capacity of 12.5 million TEUs, supported by 17,400 employees across 400 representative offices in 140 countries. The addition of Riga to Hapag-Lloyd’s extensive network offers clients faster, more reliable delivery solutions and improved global connectivity, facilitating direct access to more international destinations from Riga. Two container ships will operate this weekly route, calling at the berths of SIA “Rīgas Universālais Termināls”.
The inclusion of Hapag-Lloyd’s route is a direct result of a high-level trade mission to Hamburg in September 2025, led by the Minister of Economics, Viktors Valainis. This mission facilitated discussions with Hapag-Lloyd’s senior management, solidifying the return of this significant line to Riga. Officials emphasized that each new route through Riga enhances the efficiency and safety of Latvian supply chains, while simultaneously fostering new business activities and expanding export opportunities.
These new services bring the total number of active container lines at the Port of Riga to a historic high of nine. This impressive portfolio now includes CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Sea Consortium, Unifeeder, Samskip, Ocean Network Express, Poland-Finland Service, Ellerman City Liners, and Hapag-Lloyd.
The Port of Riga is the only port in Latvia with regular container shipping lines and specialized container terminals. In 2025, the port handled 495,700 TEUs, representing 99% of all containerized cargo processed by Latvian ports, underscoring its leading role in this sector. Containers constitute the port’s second-largest cargo segment, making up 30% of its total cargo portfolio. Containerized cargo is a strategic priority for the Port of Riga, with its volume experiencing an average annual growth of 4% over the past five years.